Question

List two differences between acquired traits and inherited traits by giving an example of each.

Answer 1

Hint: A trait is a specific characteristic of an organism. Traits are governed by genes or changes in the environment. It can be genotypic or phenotypic.

Complete answer:
A trait describes species physiology, morphology, life history etc. The genetic contribution of a trait is known as genotype whereas the expression of genotype is called the phenotype. There are two types of traits- Acquired and Inherited traits.

Acquired trait	Inherited trait
Acquired trait is the one which a person acquires in lifetime from his environment.	Inherited trait is the one which is present in a person since birth.
It is not passed from one generation to another.	It is inheritable and is passed from generation to generation.
The genotype or DNA is not affected.	The genotype or DNA is affected.
Example- Skills learnt like swimming and driving.	Example- Eye colour, hair colour, tongue rolling etc.

Additional information The trait which is inherited in the offspring is the dominant trait. Each gene comes from mother and one from father. The allele which is expressed is called the dominant and other is recessive. A recessive trait will only be expressed if the offspring has two copies of the recessive allele. For example curly hair is dominant over straight hair.

Note: Trait is a genetically determined characteristic. It can be induced due to the environment as in case of acquired or inherited from one generation to another as in the case of inherited trait.